Knockdown Knits: 30 Projects from the Roller Derby Track

By Toni Carr

Knit neat items inspired by sassy roller derby girls with the thirty hip knitting patterns that you will find in Knockdown Knits: 30 Projects from the Roller Derby Track. Roller derby, with its cheeky players, fast-paced jams, heart-stopping pileups, and rowdy, raucous atmosphere, is just as hot as the designs in this unconventional book. The Naptown Roller Girls of Indianapolis, Indiana, share the patterns they use when they’re knitting in the off-time. On skates, they're hell on wheels; in their spare time, they've discovered that knitting is a relaxing, creative outlet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Turner Publishing Company
• Release date: Oct 13, 2008
• ISBN: 9780470388655

Book preview

KNOCKDOWN KNITS

30 Projects from the Roller Derby Track

by Joan of Dark

a.k.a. Toni Carr

Wiley Publishing, Inc.,

KNOCKDOWN KNITS

Knockdown Knits: 30 Projects from the Roller Derby Track

Copyright © 2008 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. All rights reserved.

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available from the publisher upon request.

ISBN: 978-0-470-23954-4

Printed in the United States of America

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Book production by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Composition Services

Credits

Acquisitions Editor

Roxane Cerda

Development Editor

Natasha Graf

Production Editor

Suzanne Snyder

Editorial Manager

Christina Stambaugh

Publisher

Cindy Kitchel

Vice President and Executive Publisher

Kathy Nebenhaus

Interior Design

Erin Zeltner

Cover Design

Jose Almaguer

Photography

Matt Bowen

Graphics

Joni Burns

Brent Savage

Christine Williams

Proofreaders

Laura Albert

David Faust

Betty Kish

Susan Moritz

I would not be the crafter I am today if it

hadn’t been for my mother, Linda Dunn,

who never seems to need a knitting

pattern to make a sweater and always

inspired me to do my own thing; and

my grandmother, Irene Basey, who

patiently sat down with me day after day

until I finally understood that, with a little

knowledge and confidence, yarn and

needles would not always lead to tangles

and tears.

Acknowledgements

This book would not have happened without all the great people at Wiley Publishing, Inc. Many, many thanks to my editor, Natasha Graf, for consistently being one step ahead of me whenever I threatened to fall one step behind, my technical editor Alexandra Virgiel for deciphering my pattern writing, and Melody Layne for wearing the most awesome hand knit green cardigan ever, who put me in touch with the people at Wiley. Most of all, Roxane Cerda who, instead of going, Huh? You want to what??? when I said I wanted to write a knitting/roller derby book, instead said, You want to what? That’s so awesome! Let’s do it!

I have to thank my fellow Naptown girls, who grabbed yarn and needles to test knit patterns whenever I asked, or, in the case of Sweet C, Mother Russia, Strawberry Jam, and Dill and Brownie Her0, designed patterns themselves! I love our little crazy knitting/derby community, and I love the fact that I can combine two of my biggest loves together. If we can somehow incorporate miniature horses, my world would be complete!

My grandmother, Irene Basey, and my mother, Linda Dunn, were my greatest inspiration for wanting to knit, and the greatest teachers. Thankfully, in all of their knitting throughout all the years, they never once tried to cram an ugly Christmas sweater over my head!

Finally, I want to thank my husband Daniel, who patiently watched as my yarn corner became a yarn room, then a yarn hallway, then a yarn second bedroom, yarn office, and yarn living room. He waited on customers and made coffee with very minimal groaning, because I desperately needed to finish one more row. Most importantly of all, he did not break up with me when I first knit him a lumpy sweater and horrifyingly ugly yellow socks. Instead, he wears them constantly. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.

Knit

Roller-Derby Chic!

TABLE of CONTENTS

Introduction

THE INJURY LIST

Hey, at Least it Wasn’t Your Leg Arm Sling

Armpit Cushions for Crutches

Frozen Peas for Bruised Knees (ice Pack Cover)

Booty Pillow

Elevate that Ankle Pillow

SKATING IN STYLE

Slinky Leg Socks

Slinky Arm Socks

Broken Arm Sweater

I Derby Sweater

Neck Warmer/Headband

Know Your Jammer Hat

Know Your Pivot Hat

if You’ve Got it, Flaunt it Skirt

Easy Access Leg Warmers

Know Your Number Arm Bands (with Music Holder)

Golden Tickets Vest

Belly Warmer

Baby Got Back Bloomer Panties

ALL THE WAYS TO PRETTY UP YOUR GEAR

On the Move (Felted Skate Bag)

You’re a Star Tool Bag

Mouth Guard Box Cover

LET’S NOT FORGET THE REFS

Who the Heck is My Jammer, Ref? (Armbands)

Smile and Wave Ref Mittens

B&W Striped Tank for the Girlie Refs

OH, THE AFTER—PARTY

Hangover Kit

Dill and Brownie’s Beer Saver (Arm Warmer with Attached Drink Holder)

VIP Wristband

Hide the Helmet Hair Hat

Know Your Buddy Chain Wrist Cuffs

Queen of the Rink Crown

THE SISTERHOOD PROJECT

Knit it Together Blanket

Renee’s NRG [U]FC Scarf

Buddy Purse

Derby Wedding Veil

Breaking Rule #1 (Baby Booties)

Knitting Abbreviations

Special Knitting Techniques

Resources for Derby Girls

Roller-Derby Leagues

Index

Introduction

Ask any roller girl today, and she will tell you how roller derby changed her life, saved her soul, and set her free. Then you had better grab a seat, because she probably won’t stop talking about derby until your ears are sore and your head is pounding!

What’s So Great about Roller Derby Anyway?

Usually the first thing they’ll tell you is how much the sport today differs from the semistaged, pro-wrestling-style derby of the 70s. A roller girl will stress the grassroots movement that has characterized derby this decade: how it grew from a couple of teams in Texas to a nationwide phenomenon. Let her keep talking and she’ll proudly stress that the majority of leagues are DIY. Strictly do-it-yourself. From training, uniforms, and bout production, right down to the unpleasant business of bookkeeping and management. If you still haven’t started backing slowly away in fear as she aggressively demonstrates legal blocks (she might bounce a hip off of you or knock her shoulder into your ribs) she’ll then start pestering you to come to a game. If you do that, the chances are good that you’ll be hooked. After a couple hours of the screaming crowd, the simultaneous offense and defense of the players, or the simple joy of having a knocked-out skater come skidding into your lap, something about this sport will speak to you. You’ll start calling yourself a fan for life, or order some skates and start gearing up for tryouts!

In the past two years that I’ve spent obsessing over this sport, I’ve watched it grow. The national name roster alone (www.twoevils.org/rollergirls/) has grown from the 5,000 or so names I saw when I started playing to over 9,000 names as I write this. And by the time this book comes out, it will be even more.

The NRG [U]FC (Naptown Rollergirls [Unofficial] Fan Club) celebrates in the suicide seats! Suicide seats are the seats on the floor, right next to the track. Only for the very brave, those who dare are more than likely to end up with a skater skidding into their lap before the night is over.

That’s to say nothing of the fans that support it. Go to any game in Indianapolis, IN, and you’ll see 2,000-3,000 screaming fans in the stands, on the floor, standing behind the stands, or wherever they can get to catch some of the action. Roller derby has its own convention in Las Vegas, NV, a magazine, and is leaking into the mainstream media in the form of commercials and reality TV.

Roller Girls Love Their Sport—They Live It, Breathe It, and Sometimes, Knit It

With the DIY aspect of roller derby, it’s not hard to